Specialists from Actis came to a construction college to give the students some hands-on thermal bridging training and experience working with Actis Hybrid products
Budding builders from the Ofsted-outstanding Barnsley College Construction Centre were given some hands-on training from insulation specialists from Actis, learning about thermal bridging, airtightness, U and R values.
The Barnsley College Construction Centre offers T-levels and apprenticeships in various professions including bricklaying, tiling, plumbing, plastering, joinery, decorating, carpentry and surveying as well as HNDs and HNCs in Modern Methods of Construction.
Students could test out Actis Hybrid products as part of the session
Regional specification manager Amaret Chahal was invited to speak to the 17-, 18- and 19-year-olds courtesy of Louise Wagstaff, a former Actis colleague who now works for Howarth Timber in Wakefield – and is keen to spread the message about the merits of reflective insulation.
Amaret’s role was both academic and hands on, with the students reinforcing their learning about energy efficiency before measuring, cutting and installing Actis honeycomb style insulation Hybris into stud walls in the dedicated timber frame workshop.
Students were eager to learn about thermal bridging
Amaret, who before joining Actis taught in schools as part of her English literature and education studies degree, also co-wrote one of the Actis CPD modules.
She explained: “The students already knew about other forms of insulation and wanted to learn about reflective insulation too to broaden their knowledge. The Construction Centre is excellent and one of only a few in the country with an outstanding Ofsted report. ”
“We hope to be able to return during ‘Skill Build Week’ to help the students when they create both a mini timber framed building and a full-size one in their workshop, which will see them develop a structure to meet Passivhaus standards.”
